Abstract

Earthworks recently identified in the historic core of the village of Orwell were thought to be either a medieval moated site, or a medieval street frontage platform in front of other, unexplained, features. Two major phases of use were identified on the street frontage platform. Compacted chalk marl foundations for one or more buildings, and some associated features, are believed to be of medieval date, whilst a later chalk rubble wall that possibly represents a boundary feature rather than a structure, dates to sometime between 1350 and 1680. At the north end of the site trenching revealed about 1m of make-up adjacent to the "Lordship ditch". This make-up may derive from spoil deposition after successive ditch clearance/re-cuts. The central area of the site contains raised and/or flattened areas separated by ditches. Trenching revealed that chalk rubble walls, similar to the later wall found on the later wall found on the frontage platform, delimit at least some of the scarp edges of the earthworks. These walls do not appear to have been very substantial and could not have performed any major retaining function on their platform edge locations. They have been interpreted as part of a formalised orchard/garden arrangement, dating to sometime between the late medieval period and the late 17th century. The ditch on the southern edge of the frontage area produced evidence for a timber bridge and/or revetment of uncertain date. The earthworks at this site have therefore been explained as a street frontage platform with medieval occupation, behind which attempts have been made in the late 14th to late 17th century to drain the land and construct dry platforms, for use as an orchard (or similar).